Get Involved

The Scottish Stroke Research Network believe that active patient and public involvement is needed if it is to encourage research which directly benefits and reflects the needs and views of patients and the public.

The NRS Stroke Network is committed to:

Including patients, carers and the public's perspectives within all stroke research activity

Facilitating patients, carers and the public to be involved at all stages of the research process, from inception to reporting through to implementation.

Equipping researchers and Stroke Network staff with the necessary skills to involve patients, public and carers in the research process.

Evaluating patient, carer and public involvement in its activities and research studies

Liaising with other networks and organisations to identify good practice inpatient, carer and public involvement in research.

Becoming involved can be different from simply taking part in a research study. For example, it can mean:

Helping researchers to identify and ask the right questions in the right way

Making sure that health and social care research is relevant to patients, people using services and the public

On Tuesday 24 October 2017 patients, families and medical staff came to together to celebrate World Stroke Day and the many advances in care and treatment for stroke patients. Read all about our meeting here

SRN are delighted to tell you that on Wednesday 14 February the BBC series Trust Me, I’m a Doctor featured an item about the SRN supported Vagus Nerve Stimulation Stroke study. It featured University of Glasgow Professor Jesse Dawson’s, NRS Stroke Research Champion who led the first two pilot studies of this technique.

One effect of Stroke is damage to the area of the brain that controls movement. In the UK as many as half of people with stroke suffer problems with their arm which can impact on daily living activities and quality of life for the stoke victim.

The Vagus Nerve Stimulation study aims to improve arm weakness in people after stroke. The treatment involves implanting a small device (Vivistim System® - a neurostimulator) inside the body. The device stimulates the vagus nerve when triggered and, when used at the same time as rehabilitation sessions it might improve the brain’s ability to recover.

In August 2017 Professor Dawson opened the third study of vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation movements. The study will recruit 30 participants across the UK and another 100 in the USA.

The BBC episode will be available to view on iPlayer for one month will also feature on the Trust Me, I’m a Doctor website www.bbc.co.uk/trustme